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Photo: University of Virginia School of Law | Charlottesville, Va.
Thursday, April 29
Kerry Collins Cut ... I just read on CNN/SI.com that Kerry Collins was cut by The Carolina Panthers. Kerry Collins has been a really sad NFL story, a guy with so must promise whose awesome potential just never materialized into results. Penn State graduates are notorious for falling flat in the NFL - if I remember correctly, Collins was in the same draft with Ki-Jana Carter. Tony Sacca was another Penn State quarterback who held high potential and did not pan out. I think Kerry Collins is still a solid NFL quarterback, and should be picked up by somebody needing a veteran. The Chicago Bears, perhaps.
Wedding Schedule ....
Ok, everybody help me out here. This summer has turned out to be The Summer of Love in Mississippi. A wedding is being held practically every weekend sans July 4th.
June 5th -
June 12th - Amelia Purser Mike Bailey
June 19th - Doty Wohrman Tripp Yates (Memphis, TN)
June 26th -
July 3rd -
July 10th - Stoner Huff Bradley Kellum (Yazoo City, MS)
July 17th - Morgan Stuart Haydn Roberts (Macon, MS)
July 24th -
July 31st -
August 7th - Staci Henson Brent Tyler (Jackson, MS)
August 14th - Margaret Dillon Guest David Carroll (Oxford, MS)
August 21st - Jan and Payton Perrett (Dekalb, MS)
Ok, I dont know the dates of Decker and Emily Penick, Stewart and Melissa Lowther, Conkin and his woman, Gentry and Mary Grace, or Ben T. Newton and Rachael Parks (though I think theirs is July 31st in Jackson), and I may be wrong about the other dates. Somebody help me out here. SNN will be on the scene Saturdays this summer. I will have more than my share of finger foods and wedding cake.
Gordon Fellows ... A Reformer with Results.
I see Gordon Fellows is leading an effort to put the Traffic Appeals Board under student (ASB) control. This is just one of many positive initiatives I expect to see from Gordon this year.
Plug Adapter and Voltage Converter ..... A Monumental Hassle
An ongoing adventure on this trip has been my struggle with the voltage converter / plug adapter for my Kodak DC4800 digital camera.
For those of you who do not know, Europe uses a different electrical plug and different voltage (230/240 instead of 110/120) than the United States. This required me to purchase a device that would compensate for European and American electrical differences.
A day before my trip - my equivalent of planning ahead - I found a converter at Radio Shack, the Daewoo of electronic stores.
I should have anticipated problems buying from radio shack. While in London, the apapter / converter worked perfectly. Only when I left Britain did the problems begin.
The adapter has three settings - one for Britain, one for Australia, and one for Europe. With each setting, a different plug pops out, and for the England and Australia plugs, you can lock them into place by pushing a switch up or down.
The European plug, however, does not lock into place. I had to jam a pack of bubble gum into the slot so the adparter plug stay in the electrical outlet.
Additionally, I have to position the adapter just right. It won't work if I push it all the way in. I have to leave it about 60% in.
This requires supreme craftmanship. The problem reached its apex today in Florence. I had to stack my Let's Go Europe and Rick Steve's Europe Through The Back Door and then put Rudy Guiliani's Leadership Book on top of the two other books and just other the adapter/converter for support.
I photographed this hilarious rig, and will try to post the picture soon.
So, from this, I have learned.
When going to Europe.
... do not buy from radio shack
... bring plenty of extra batteries to cut back on dependence to ac adapters
... buy a digital camera with dual voltage
Wednesday, April 28
Dead at 106 - Oldsmobile --- The car I remember most vividly from my youth, my Mom's 1982 turquoise Oldsmobile 88, will always have a soft spot in my heart, as will this car company. Read the CNN story here.
Italy ...... Home to marvelous countryside and magnificent mullets, Italy is a photographer's utopia. Too bad my camera battery died yesterday in the Alps.
I arrived in Firenze (Florence) at 0715 this morning, surprising well-rested despite the all-night noise coming from a gaggle of rambunctious German teens. The ringleader reminded me of a young Brent Fletcher on Speed. He was quite a character, and loved America.
I was housed on the top couchette (bunk), sharing space with an emergency ladder and a baggage rack. The girl in the top couchette across from me turned out to be a junior from LSU studying in Aix for the semester. She grew up in Lafayette, La., knew more than I did about Ship Island, and gave me hell about the Ole Miss-LSU football game. Hers was the first Southern accent I heard besides my own since coming to Europe.
Rather than wander Florence, I decided to hop a trip for the heart of Italy, Assisi of St. Francis fame. The train was cramped and crowded, but I dozed most of the trip and admired the countryside when awake. Italy's people and landscapes are similar to Spain, though the people are a little louder and the water a little browner.
Assisi had a small and quite two track train station, but the bus was a jungle. We packed a small village onto that hapless vehcile. I counted 62 people.
Assisi is built on and into a hill, which makes for a spectacular view from the bottom.
The Basilica was overrun by guided tours and mischevious children on field trips. The inside of the building was splendid. I watched part of the mass, viewed the tomb of St. Francis, and admired the frescoes that covered the ceiling.
A walk through the old town was surprisingly people. The town during midday exhibits about as much life as its patron saint.
On the way back to Florence, I met a couple from Ontario who were friendly and full of information. The husband backpacked across Europe on 3.75 a day in 1965. The wife sells art supplies but said her sales to Americans and treatment from Americans had declined considerably since Canada decided not to join the U.S. in the War against Iraq.
I lucked out in the train station in Perfugia and spotted a Coop grocery across the street where I found a pizza and diet coke for 3 euors.
The train ride back to Florence was even more crowded, was bumpy, and loud. The train in Italy lack air conditioning so people roll the windows down to make the heat bearable. Only problem - the noise becomes unbearable.
On the bus back to the train in Assisi, I was serenaded by some teenage Austrian girls who sang 'Take Me Home, Country Road,' 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', and 'Proud Mary'. A strange ensemble coming from Austrian teenagers, but the music did 'take me home' and made me a tad bit homesick.
The mullet is quite common among Italian teens. They shave the sides and leave a mohawk mullet in the middle. They always like to wear gargantuan sunglasses that look straight out of a bad 1960s science fiction movie. I hope Italians do not dictate future styles for America, though I wouldn't find seeing a few more mullets popping up around home.
The hostel was booked solid, the second choice's receptionist was nowhere to be found, the the internet cafe I tried didn't have internet access. Luckily, the receptionist was back on my second try, and this new internet cafe is fast and comfortable.
Back to Civilization ... Sort of.
I have very limited access to the Internet over the last two days.
I am currently in Firenze (Florence) where I will be spending the evening before heading to Venice and other Italian hotspots. Tourists crawl this country like ants, and mullets are the hairstyle of choice amongst the Italian teenage boys.
The internet apparently takes an afternoon break with everyone else in the country, but I am using my free minutes from the hostel to say hello to everyone and to reprimand yall for not posting as often. Later this evening, I will try to add several new posts.
Ciao.
Monday, April 26
Jody Tharp .... I just read in The Daily Mississippian that Jody Tharp was involved in a traffic accident on April 3 and is in serious condition. The article in the DM can explain her situation better than I can. www.thedmonline.com
I've known Jody since our freshman year at Ole Miss. This is really shocking. Everyone please put Jody and her family in your thoughts and pray for a speedy recovery.
In the Alps .... In about twenty minutes, I will board a train bound for Zurich, then in Zurich, catch a train to Interlaken. I can't wait for the intoxicating beauty of the Swiss Alps. The Tirol Alps in Innsbruck, Austria, have been a tasty apptetizer.
Days until Return ......... 14
Talladega ..... Does anyone have good Talladega stories? I heard the Jackson Prep posse was up to no good as usual.
Rebels in the NFL ......... Not too bad, 4 Ole Miss Rebels drafted by NFL teams. Eli is obvious, but who would have thought a backup offensive tackle, Stacy Andrews, would go next, and our often picked-on though athletic cornerback Von Hutchins would be drafted. Charlie Anderson played like an NFL Defensive End toward the end of the season.
Sadly, my MPSA contemporaries Justin Sawyer and Justin Wade were not drafted.
Surprisingly, Chris Collins was not chosen by a NFL team. I still think he'll get a free agent contract and will wind up playing on Sundays.
Several of Clarion Ledger's Most Wanted from my senior year of high school were drafted. Jeremy Leseur from Holly Springs and Michigan was drafted early, and Stephen Peterman of St. Stanislaus and LSU went to Dallas.
The top two players from the Class of 1999, Kevin Fant and Dontae Walker, were ultimately not drafted by NFL teams.
Saturday, April 24
A New York Times Article on Pete Coors ..... another good piece from The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/national/24COOR.html?hp
Eli Joins Granville in New York City ...... The southern invasion of New York City continues.
I was checking out ESPN.com here in Vienna, Austria, and I saw that the Chargers had called his bluff and drafted Eli No.1. This heightened my already foul-mood. Rained all day in Budapest and I was woken up 9 - yes 9 - times by police and train conductors during the night train from Prague to Budapest. But then I clicked another link, and ESPN said Eli had been traded to the Giants. Whew. I was worried Eli was going to have to pull a Danny Ferry esque holdout. Now Eli can play for a strong franchise in a top city.
Now, I want to hear from you.
Who is the most prominent southerner to recently leave to the south and move to New York City?
Billary (Bill and Hillary Clinton)
Eli Manning
Granville Engle
Friday, April 23
The Budapest Express and Disliking the Word Like ...... Under darkness, I will cross the Slovak Republic and then Hungary, where I will spend tomorrow morning and afternoon in Budapest before taking an evening train to Vienna, Austria. Prague is great when you can escape the tourist traps. Goulash is about as tasty as it sounds. Also, the young Americans I am encountering in Europe can't speak proper English. Probably 75% of them use 'like' about 4 times per sentence. That is, like, so lame.
What Should Eli Do ........ If you are Eli's Manning agent, do you
A) Tell him to suck it up and sign with San Diego if drafted
B) Advise him to sit out the 2004 season if San Diego drafts you and refuses to trade you
C) Take Rocket Ishmail's route and tell Eli to play for The Calgary Stampeders or Toronto Argonauts
D) Try to have Eli reinstated for a 6th year on the Ole Miss football team
I know which answer David Cutcliffe would choose.
The Chargers screwed up by trying to play hardball. GM AJ is your typical NFL egomaniac who got that giant sized ego bruised when Archie told him in confidence that his franchise was awful and Eli wanted to play elsewhere. So AJ gets upset and goes public with Archie's conversation, trying to make the Mannings look like prima donnas, which is, admittedly, another debatable topic.
Genespage.com blasts Eli ..... Apparently, the crowd from Gene's Page has some sort of allegiance to Phillip Rivers and N.C. State, because they think he is going to be a great quarterback and that Eli is overrated and will be an NFL bust.
Some of the Gene's Page crowd really scares me. All this anger directed toward college football players and a rival university. Chill out. They need to direct their anger toward something more productive, like kickboxing or Al-Qaeda or Sally Struthers.
* This is not to stay I am just as afraid of some of the Ole Miss Spirit crowd.
Fortunately, we have SNN as the net's beacon of reason and intelligent thought.
More Racial Slurs in Kincannon ...... Four years ago, the campus erupted after racial graffiti was made in GHM. Last year, the national media returned to Oxford to cover racial slurs that were founded on the doors in Kincannon of several African-American students. GHM and Kincannon both turned out be hoaxes. Now we have a third case of racist graffiti. But after 'crying wolf' twice, is anybody going to listen the third time around? I am not coming to an opinion on what happened in this particular instance. It could be a genuine racist act from a single or group of morons, but it's just as likely to be another hoax perpetrated by people who love to keep race in the center of discussion at The University of Mississippi and love to provide excuses for the media, athletic rivals, and others to dredge up the past. Read here
Sigma Nu Party Dominates Senior Class Elections ...... A Sigma Nu triumvirate - Taylor McNeel, Tice Young, and David Donaldson - won all three senior class offices. Along with ASB President Gordon Fellows and ASB Treasurer Will Walker, that makes five Sigma Nu's in major campuswide positions. Only the Communist Party in China, Nelson Mandela's African National Congress, and The Republican Party in Rankin County have a stronger hold on their respective dominions.
Warner Alford Tabbed as New Executive Director of Alumni Affairs ..... The University of Mississippi appears to be finally taking up a recycling program, Athletic-Director style. After hiring Pete Boone as Athletic Director, a position he previously held, the University has named former Athletic Director Warner Alford the new Executive Director of Alumni Affairs. Alford was Athletic Director when I first began following Rebel athletics, and is widely well-regarded by the older alumni. No word yet on if and in what capacity John Shafer will return to the University. Alumni Association Chooses New Leader
Thursday, April 22
Page 2 Blasts Eli ...... Eli Manning, my pledge brother, was reviled by ESPN Page 2, a rogue offshoot of ESPN that is a little more edgy than ESPN.com. Here's what they had to say about Eli.
BEGINNING OF STORY
"The "character" thing: NFL draftniks, GMs and fans all pay it a ton of lip service.
So I wonder if Eli Manning's demand to be shipped to New York -- or, more accurately, to not play for San Diego -- will hurt his draft grade? (Why do I think it won't?) It should. What a punk!
Teams draft the players, not the other way around. The system works because the struggling teams get the player that best fits their needs. Here's an irony: All Mike Williams wants to do is play in the NFL -- and he can't; meanwhile, Manning is acting like a prima donna before he even gets to the draft podium.
If I was a Chargers fan, I wouldn't even want Manning anymore. Forget it: Ship his overrated keister to the Giants Then at No. 4, draft Philip Rivers, who will be a better NFL QB than Manning anyway.
END OF STORY
He ranked Eli the No.2 biggest draft crybaby behind John Elway.
If I was Eli, I would embrace John Elway comparisons.
The Time 100 ...... If you have an opportunity, go to Time.com or purchase the latest edition of time and read the profiles of the World's Most Influential People. Some of the essays were extraordinary, though one could argue that Britney Spears was unfairly left out.
Lt. Governor Released from Hospital .... I was just told by a former co-worker of mine that my former boss, Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, had been hospitalized with pneumonia. She works herself to exhaustion daily, and I was always amazed by her energy level. One day, she had the flu, flew to Pontotoc, spoke at a rally there, then was driven to Oxford where she gave one of her best speeches of the campaign to The Lafayette County Republican Women. The demands of statewide office can be draining, and I hope she rests up and has a speedy recovery.
Great column about Eli and San Diego ........ read here.
MSU Quarterback .... Havent been checking Genes Page lately, so I am unaware of how the quarterback situation is shaking out as MSU. Who of Conner, Nelson, and York will win the battle and become the next Sleepy Robinson, Greg Plump, or Matt Wyatt?
Prague ..... I have arrived in Bohemian Prague, described to me by a drunken American who came into my train compartment last night spouting stories as America s 52 State. Not sure what the 51st was. Didnt bother asking.
These two other drunk guys came on the train. They sounded like they were from The Florida Panhandle, but they were from Oregon. One wore a John Deere hat and thought I said Jacksonville when I told him I was from Jackson. He then proceeded to talk about PC Beach, Flor a bama, and Pensacola for about 15 minutes. He had been stationed in Pensacola for 10 months with the Navy.
I am in a net cafe called The Bohemian Bagle. The city has stunning medieval design, but loses its luster thanks to the hordes of tourists in every nook and cranny of the Old Town area.
The prices here are as low as the rumors I have heard. Almost half the price of most European capitals.
I must leave, because I am going to try out goulash and dumplings at a restaurant recommended by my guide book.
As I have two full days in Prague, I should be posting regularly.
Wednesday, April 21
Munich, Aying, and soon Prague ...... Bavaria is a spectacular region, and I will miss Germany. Germany tops my list of countries that I would consider making a return visit to. Tonight, I will take my seventh night train of the trip to Prague, The Czech Republic.
Rivers wins Ben T. Newton Leadership Award ...... Proving ASB leaders only get better with age, Marshall Rivers topped Gordon Fellows and others to capture the 2nd annual Benjamin T. Newton Leadership Award. Hilarious Article. Read it here.Ben, I never received my free appetizer gift certificate. And congrats to Marshall .... this improves his chances of landing the final expansion franchise for XSB Season 3.
Tuesday, April 20
HUGE NEWS DELIVERED TO MY EMAIL ....
Hey, Scoop Gregory ...... put this in The Magnolia Report next to the daily link of Nick Walters handing a check to somebody.
It is time once again for the Lee County Republican Precinct Caucuses
and County Convention. These are very important
events for the Mississippi Republican Party and for Lee County.
During the Caucuses, we will be electing delegates
for the County Convention.
Then, during the
County Convention we will elect delegates for
the State Convention and a new county Executive
Committee.
Robert Gallery - I remember another mulleted Big 10 lineman who was a can't miss prospect that many said should be drafted over the quarterback who finished 3rd in the Heisman voting.
His name was Tony Mandarich. The quarterback's name chosen ahead of him - Troy Aikman.
Give me a break with this Gallery chatter. Eli is the undisputed No.1.
How Did Red Blue Weekend Turn Out ...... Is Michael Spurlock going to follow the long legacy of Rebel quarterbacks such as Manning, Manning, Fourcade, Mark Young, and Tommy Luke
The Rhine, The Romantic Road, and Munich ...... I was blessed today to view the lovely Rhine Valley, a few towns on The Romantic Road, and now lively Munich. I also had an extended stop in the skyscraper heavy city of Frankfurt as well as Colgone. My brain is nearly fried due to lack of quality sleep and this dang detergent powder that exploded in my travel bag and now is caked on all my books and my hands.
Monday, April 19
Drew's invading Berlin ...... Phil Collins playing on the radio, that Against All Odds song.
Anyway, the Sony Center supposedly has English language movies, so I figured why not, I have a few hours to kill. I go back to the Sony Center and there is a massive crowd, guardrails, and 50 First Dates posters stuck around the center. Turns out, it's the German opening for 50 First Dates. I kept hearing a yelp or two during the wait, thought the one or two cheers might be for co-star Dan Aykroyd, but he didn't show.
I finally hear a wave of cheers, people start chanting Drew, I think to myself I've never heard my name chanted before, and then Drew Barrymore pops out. Signs some autographs, and goes inside. I was about 4 feet from her. She's trimmer in person, very sophisticated looking. I'm still thinking I would have rather seen Adam Sandler, E.T., or a English-language movie, not an overrated American movie star.
I still plan .... to post stories about The Silja Lines Cruise and Kicki's Kareoke Bar in Stockholm
Beautiful Berlin and The Wall .... A sprawling city where construction cranes share the skies the birds, Berlin is fast becoming the hub of the European continent. The people are relaxed, though the train station employees are a little short. Starting at 6 this morning, I have explored much of the city thanks to Bus No. 100, and the city's S Bahn and U Bahn. This is a city where one could stay for weeks and still miss something. I have done as well as I could in a day. I leave a few minutes before midnight tonight on a train bound for Cologne. After peering at Cologne's famous cathedral, I am onto Koblenz to begin a rail tour on The Rhine Valley, followed by a stop in Rothenberg, the hub of The Romantic Road. Tomorrow evening, I will return to a hostel for the first time in almost a week, in Munich. I am amazed by the German's resilience. What they have done to East Berlin in just over a decade is stupendous.
I went to the largest remaining chunk of the Berlin Wall and was able to scrape off a small piece. It will probably crumble before I return, but at least for a few days, I can say I owned a piece of The Wall.
Europe and Professional Wrestling ..... Since leaving for Europe, I have encountered verz little professional wrestling related besides the countless movie posters for Welcome to the Jungle, starring WWE Superstar The Rock, in the Parisian subway. The magazine shelves in Sweden's Pressbryan don't include RAW Magazine, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, or other esteemed wrestling fishwraps. Eithe Europeans never embraced pro wrestling during its glory days or Europeans had the foresight to abandon interest in the sport before WWE programming deteriorated into its current state of stale overkill.
Europe, though, has a place in professional wrestling history. Gorgeous George, wrestling's first notorious heel was British, I believe. London's Wembley Stadium is the venue for famous wrestling events, and the WWE travels regularly to Europe for shows (though one could not tell by press coverage). The Europeans have also given us the WWE European Title and the European Uppercut.
Europeans, though, have not been some of wrestling's greatest talents. While Europe has provided civilization with marvelous art, architecture, and literature, it has not provided the world with too many legendary wrestlers. In the next few paragraphs, however, I will go country by country, giving homage to European wrestlers who have made their mark on pro wrestling in the last twenty years.
GREAT BRITAIN
In Europe's shallow wrestling pool, Britain is still the deep end.
7. Screamin Norman Smiley - annoying semi jobber whose gimmick is to act asinine and be Eric Bischoff's buddy. Recently canned by the WWE.
6. The Belfast Brawler Fit Finlay - after staging some classic matches with Dean Malenko, The Belfast Brawlers career was tragically cut short after breaking his neck at a house show in the Mississippi Coliseum. Not sure where he is now.
5. The Loch Ness - A secret weapon in Kevin Sullivan's ever expanding stockpile of secret weapons for The Dungeon of Doom, Loch Ness was supposedly 8 feet tall and over 500 pounds. While his size was disputable, what was indisputable was his lack of teeth. The guy had 3 or 4 at most. Fought in a few matches and mercifully he and The Dungeon of Doom vanished from WCW radar.
4. The Dynamite Kid ´- One half of The British Bulldogs during the 80s, The Dynamite Kid retired young, making him possibly the only professional wrestler in history to retire.
3. Lord William Regal - Despite a few months in the WWE wearing plaid shirts, work boots, and going by the nickname Man's Man, William Regal has played the stereotypical pompous British blueblood. He is one of the better villains in the sport, and always seemed to battle for the European Championship in WCW and WWE. He also made a good WWE Commissioner.
2. The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith ß Married into the Hart Familz and achieved some success in singles action after tag teaming with The Dynamite Kid and Owen Hart for a decade. Went from WWF to WCW, got messed over by Vince Russo, returned briefly to the WWE, left WWE, and passed away recently well before his prime.
1. Rowdy Roddy Piper Much to the chagrin of Englishman, a Scotsman has bragging rights as Britain's best. Though Piper has resided in the US for as long as I can remember, he came to fame as a trash talking, kilt wearing, bagpipe toting Scotsman. He was Hulk Hogans main adversary during the Rock N Wrestling Dazs and bodyslammed Mr. T during their boxing bout at Wrestlemania II.
To be continued ..... with profiles on wrestlers from France to Finland .....
Top 10 List .... Places I Want to Eat When I Return
German Bockwurst, Belgian Waffles, and Turkish Donor Kebabs not included, European food is normally overpriced and drab. American food - check that, Mississippi food - is something I am eagerly anticipating. Here are my top 10 targets for food as I return home and before I get on the Bryan Madden Ironman Fitness Program.
10. Chili's (Boneless Buffalo Wings - will eat these in the airport in Detroit)
9. Outback Steakhouse - Aussie Cheese Fries
8. Kiefer's - Gyro
7. Any Truck Stop - Gas Station Food (Egg Rolls and Chicken Strips)
6. Mazzio's - Calzone
5. Cock of the Walk - Fish, Cole Slaw, and Cornbread
4. Hammil's - Country Buffet
3. The Cherokee (Pabst Blue Ribbon)
2. Margarita's - Mexican Food
1. McAlister's - Sweet Tea
9.
Pete Coors Running for U.S. Senate ..... one of television advertising's best personalities, Coors Brewing Company Chairman Pete Coors (R), has announced his intentions to fill the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Ben Nighthorse Campbell. If Coors's campaign ads are as creative as his beer ads, he's got a great shot. Pete might look the part of a high school headmaster, but he could make this senate race very interesting. His opponent is not August Busch III, but Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar, a popular Dem. He also faces a former Republican Congressman in the primary. www.coorsforsenate.com
Jeb Bush ...... Alex, read a great article in The New Yorker about Jeb Bush's popularity in Florida. Could we have a 3rd Bush President one day?
Berlin ..... After the night train from Malmo to Berlin, I arrived in Berlin at 0600 this morning, grabbed a Chocolate Chip Muffin from Dunkin' Donuts and a Diet Coke and I was on my way. Berlin is a huge, modern city with a heavy topping of history. The Reichstag was a marvel of history and design, and the view from the top of the TV Tower, despite the mist, was impressive.
I had to purchase some new clothes to survive the rest of the country. I will check out the remnants of the Wall, a few other spots, and then will head for Cologne, Germany, on the night train.
P.S. The Bockwurst was excellent.
Sunday, April 18
Onto Berlin ....... I am stuck in Malmo for half a day, and then I'll take the night train to Berlin. Scandinavia will be missed.
The President of Good and Evil ......... Alex, I think you would enjoy Peter Singer's The President of Good of Evil. Singer, a well-known philosopher, punches holes in Bush's logic on a variety of issues, from tax policy to stem cell research to war. The chapter on economic policy was particularly strong. Though Singer's logic has holes as well, and any expert philosopher could probably expose the fallacies of any U.S. President, I think he makes a stronger case to point out Bush's mistakes than Michael Moore or Al Franken or any other liberal celebrity trying to sell books can do.
That Didn't Take Long ....... Being the leader of the terrorist group Hamas can prove hazardous to one's health. I'm not meaning to be flippant about this guy's death, but from a standpoint of combating terrorism, I am impressed by the Israeli military's precision. Read here
Saturday, April 17
The Helsinki Accords ..... A Roadmap to Peace on SNN.
As most of you know, I encourage the free exchange of opinions and comments on this website, and I am overjoyed by the spirited discussions generated by all of you and the interest you have taken in SNN since its restart.
I must, however, makes certain suggestions about posting before SNN devolves into a mean-spirited playground. Here are a few of my suggestions for posting on SNN.
Rule No. 1 Do not threaten physical violence. These threats are weak and are for the weak minded, and that kind of smack should have ended back in the 8th grade. If somebody criticizes you or something you said, come up with responses better than to paraphrase, 'I'll kick your butt.'
Rule No. 2 Do not talk about anybody's momma.
Also, know your limits on bad language. I have family members that read this site. Who knows. Little kids might look at this site too.
Just be civil. I don't mind some good smack, but don't go too far.
Sorry if I sound like Gene Swindoll. Keep enjoying SNN.
Cruising to Finlandia ...... I am in Helsinki today after a cruise from Stockholm. I will return by boat to Stockholm tonight, and then take a long train to Berlin.
Thursday, April 15
Updated Pictures ..... Seizing the rare opportunity to post my pictures to the web, I have added a few from several locations, including Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, and The Anti War Rally in London. Before you get any ideas, I was not in attendance as a protestor, but as an amused observer. These pictures can be viewed at drewsnyder.smugmug.com.
ASB on MSNBC.com. Good gracious. DM Editor Laura Houston discusses student government politics in Newsweek. Read here and share your opinions.
Stewart Rutledge ..... Stewart Rutledge, an Ole Miss graduate who is full of opinions and sends out hilarious and or thought provoking emails quite often, , has surprisingly been silent since SNN's rebirth. Unless Stewart is mulling over a bid for the Mayor of Flowood in 2021, he has no reason to withhold his opinions. Stewart, please rejoin us.
Hmmmm ..... nothing too fascinating to report today. I got to impersonate Howard Dean's Iowa Caucus concession speech to an American teaching in France who hadn't heard it as of yet. It wasn't too bad, and as usual, my Bill Clinton is dead on.
Wednesday, April 14
Kerry's Cabinet .......... Safire poses some possible choices for a Kerry Administration. Click here to find out who.
Who Won ..... The Ben T. Newton Leadership Award? Don't hold me in suspense any longer.
Joel Fyke ...... has won the prestigious Truman Scholar. This is a huge award, right below The Rhodes Scholar. Joel Fyke is a well-deserving candidate, brilliant guy, and back in the day, not a bad high school fullback for Jackson Prep. He picked up a chunk of yards in the 1999 championship game against my JA Raiders. If someone sees Joel, ask him if the Truman Scholarship meant as much to him as winning a state championship against JA.
Recommended Reading ..... Scott Turow's Reversible Errors. A suspenseful view of the fallacies of the legal system and the people who comprise the legal system. Next on my agenda, Elmore Leonard short stories and his novel, Tishomingo Blues. Good stories, not deep reading, is a better way to enjoy a train ride.
Another NASCAR dream ..... this time, Matt Grenfell and I were watching the Talladega 500 and cheering on NASCAR's newest drivers, Marley Hogan and Matt Perkins. I don't even think Daniel could interpret this random dream.
Cody Harrell ..... Cody, now that you mention it, I think you still me owe me a Sigma Nu Christmas Party t shirt. I don't think Diana Evans ever forgave me when I told her I was unable to deliver the Christmas Party t-shirt I had purchased for her. And I think Bradley Kellum and Chris Decker are still waiting for their Bigsmart.com riches to be delivered to them. (I am just kidding, of course. Cody, give me an update on law school and your life. Have not spoken with you in a while.)
Michael Moore ..... loves to hate on America leaders because his books sell well in Europe. Really well. His book, Stupid White Men, is No.1 on the Bestseller List in Sweden. And his most recent book is flying off the shelves in France, Britain, and Spain.
Maybe he would speak nicer of America and her leaders if he could sell more books in his home country (though he's not doing too bad at all in the US)
Michael Moore, by the way, is the reason I will shave regulary and exercise when I am older. The guy is a bestselling blob!
The Economist ...... I bought the latest edition of The Economist while I was in Amsterdam. I must say, a very impressive magazine. After reading it cover to cover, I felt like I had an adequate understanding of the major political issues and characters in every part of the world.
Voter ID .... looks like the House finally passed a version of Voter ID. This common-sense proposal has been bogged down by some of the legislator's brightest minds and some of its dimmest (I, like John Kerry, will not name names) for varying reasons, none of which are concerns about voter integrity.
Now, the House bill exempts voters 65 and older from presenting ID. A just compromise, I suppose, for many argued that elderly African-Americans would be reminded of poll taxes and Jim Crow laws. I am not sure how asking someone to present a driver's license or about 22 other valid kinds of possible ID to cast a vote can be equated with forcing to pay money, recite the Constitution, or overcome some other act of voter intimidation. But then again, I am not in the Mississippi House of Representatives, where common sense is more likely to be spare change than a practiced form of thought.
So with this over 65 exemption, the elderly will not be intimidated, crooked candidates can continue to use the nursing homes to get illegal absentee votes, and the dead people can continue to vote in high numbers in many Mississippi counties, especially a county adjacent to Lowndes County.
This, my fellow Mississippians, is progress.
Solo Travelers, Aussies, and The Obnoxious American Granola Girl......... Solo travelers are different than the average European travelers. We are typically a bit older, more open minded, more apt to visit sites that are off the beaten path, and we tend to relate better to one another. Most of the Americans traveling abroad travel in packs of 2 to 5, and I find most unapproachable. Many people I have seen who travel in groups form a bubble of sorts and lock themselves off from new people. The Aussies always travel in small packs, but they are rather friendly and carefree. The British girls are interesting thanks to their accents and their frankness. Most of the American guys that travel in packs huddle in Amsterdam to get high. The worst group travelers, by far, are the granola girls from America. They are obnoxious, they complain all the time, and they poorly represent the U.S. (This isnt ALL of them, mind you, just sóme of the ones I have come in contact with in hostels). I and other solo American travelers have to apologize on behalf of our country to other foreign travelers for these girls, and remind the other travelers that in America, we only tolerate the obnoxious, conceited (redundant) girl if she is beautiful. Sadly, these girls are not. I am going to compile a list of the personality types of the European backpacker over the next few weeks and publish it to the blog. I wish I had the One Angry Dwarf here to point out the personality traits.
Norway in a Nutsell ..... Norway's beauty is unmatched in all of Europe. I fear nothing will compare in my final weeks on the continent.
Swedish Customs Raid the Rail ..... Look out! The always intimidating Swedish customs officers strode into the Business Class section of the Linx train bound from Norway to Gotenberg, Sweden, to check passports and make sure nothing valuable or dangerous was being smuggled from Norway to Sweden.
As customs should already know, most people who leave Norway leave with no money. Thank the country's astronomical prices for that. My Half Liter Coca Cola Light purchased at the Narvassen store in Oslo would probably have been expensive enough to declare if I had been returning to the U.S.A.
So customs start asking questions, and I look around to see myself and several people of Middle Eastern descent. Now in America, out of this group, I would have wound up getting wanded and strip searched so Customs would not be giving off the appearance of racial profiling. In Sweden, however, racial profiling hasnt been tossed from the rulebook.
They took a quick glance at me, asked more my passport, and were fairly satisfied that I was not a threat to Swedish security. However, the other travelers were not so lucky. They questioned a Turkish women seated across from me for about 3 minutes before passing onto the next people, and a very polished father of two who appeared to be Egyptian had his bags thoroughly inspected and was questioned for five minutes.
After seeing this, I knew the young couple seated directly across from me was headed for some problems. They were fidgety, and were whispering to one another in an unrecognizable language. When the customs officials came over and asked for VISAs, all I heard was no from the woman. Wrong answer. That answer set off several phone calls from Swedish customs as they preceded to camp out a few rows down from me. At the next station, the Albanian couple was led off the train. That is where the story ends.
See, this is another reason why I despise terrorists. The Middle Eastern people I have met in America and in Europe are generally very good, law-abiding folks. These few extremists have made the world suspicious of the entire lot, and have made it more difficult for people of similar appearance to live normal, carefree lives without scrutiny.
Of course, the couple without the VISA needed to dealt with, since they had apparently done some wrong. But for the family man who had his bags inspected, his life has become slightly more complicated because of the fear and suspicion these evil fanatics have wrought. These terrorists are a plague to the world, and their extermination is a mission of our generation.
Monday, April 12
Phi Mu Pledge Olympics T Shirt ......... Pepper s post reminds me. Van, where is that Phi Mu Pledge Olympics tshirt I ordered back in 1999. I am still waiting on it.
Halfway Home ..... today or tomorrow marks the midpoint of my European adventure.
My Latest Dream ..... thought the old school Sigma Nus would like this one.
Apparently, my pledge class was going on a reunion retreat to some undisclosed location in a green van eerily reminiscent of The Mystery Machine from the hit cartoon Scooby Doo. This beared guy in tie dyed clothing got on the bus selling hemp, and I had no clue who the guy was, until Jeff McCrary told me it was Elliott Teague. Apparently, Elliott had left his job in Nashville to travel the world and sell drugs.
Then Chad Clardy was leaving the bus and got real emotional and told me to never forget him and to come see him next time I came to Corinth. Matt Flanagan, Matthew Ingram, Fletcher, Kilgore, Jay Elam, etc. were noticeably absent from the dream.
I also dreamed there was a Sigma Nu Commandersæ election between McCrary, Kellum, some other guy Ellis Stubbs maybe. I skipped the chapter meeting but when I got back, there was a runoff between the guy that might have been Ellis Stubbs and David Ray. Cant remember who won.
It is a Britney Spears and Phil Collins world ............. This dynamic duo dominates the European music market. In every store that is playing music, one can be almost certain that Britney or Phil will be blaring.
Norway, beautiful sites, beautiful women, and outrageous prices ........ Norway has it all. Deep blue waters, tall trees, snow capped mountains, and blonde bombshells. To enjoy an Earthly utopia, one must pay a hefty price. A Sunday New York Times in Oslo costs approx. 17 US Dollars. A half liter Coca Cola costs 3.50 US Dollars. I found my first George W. Bush supporters in Europe, two natives of Medford, Mass. who were visiting Oslo for the evening and staying in the Anker Hostel.
Also, the woman of my dreams, a gorgeous blonde haired, blue eyed Swedish girl working in Oslo, gave me directions to my hostel. Unfortunately, as a beared guy in beat up clothes who looks like a Viking on the city tram, I wasnt quite in position to charm.
Question to Readers ..... WHO IS THE BEST GOLFER NEVER TO WIN A MAJOR
Phil has finally done it ..... I found out Monday evening in Oslo that Phil Mickelson had won The Master and his first major. I am relieved for him. I was part of a growing contingent who wondered if he would ever win a major.
Friday, April 9
Vanderbilt Finishes First in the SEC in Something ....... Perennial athletic doormat Vanderbilt gained SEC bragging rights for yet another year when the US News & World Report Ranking of America's Best Colleges and Universities came out. Vanderbilt was 1st in the SEC (19th nationally).
The rankings go this way.
SEC East
19. Vanderbilt
48. Florida
58. Georgia
95. Tennessee
107. Kentucky
112. South Carolina
SEC West
95. Auburn
99. Alabama
Unranked
Arkansas
LSU
MSU
Ole Miss
Word is, the fans in Tuscalossa are irate that Auburn bested them and are on local radio demanding Gene Stallings to be brought in as President.
* NOTE: Don't read into rankings too much. The actual quality of a school is difficult to measure. These rankings indicate more of a university's reputation than its actual ability to produce scholars and leaders. Still, I really want Ole Miss to get into the top tier.
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I am a 23-year-old first-year law student at 
